Charity skating gala in Danbury CT, Oct 4, 2003

(This is a copy of my earlier post, which I was not able to bump up from the archive. As more skating fans have come from vacations back, maybe there are those who have not heard about this charity show?)

Got the original info from FSU, but link to their thread does not work any more. The following link works...

>VIKTORY FOR KIDS will also feature a VIP fundraising reception with a celebrity auction at the Colorado Brewery and Steakhouse in Danbury. All proceeds from the event will benefit the Children of Chornobyl Relief Fund (CCRF), an award winning charity that has delivered over $50 million in medical technology and humanitarian aid to children’s hospitals and orphanages in Ukraine.

Tickets will go on sale beginning August 1st at the Danbury Ice Arena 203-794-1704. >

Originally posted by Joesitz It's nice to see all these Pro skaters getting gigs. In the case of this charity gala, are they donating their talents to the cause or are they getting more than expenses?

Joe,

This is more than just a "gig". Victor has made helping Chernobyl kids his own personal mission. He has donated a lot of time and money to this cause.

Also, note please that a disproportionate number of participants come from the former USSR. I can tell you for a fact that for all of them Chernobyl kids is a much more close and intimate problem than a generic charity (please do not construe this as anything against other charities or people who support them). When looking at those kids, we all (by "we" I mean former USSR residents) can only say "There but for the grace of G-d". Any one of us could have been a victim of such criminal negligence on the part of the governement and the system.

17 long years have passed since that reactor exploded. Those born that year are almost adult now. And yet the problem persists, with thousands of babies born every year at incredibly high risk of cancer, birth defects, and other radiation related deseases.

Victor does not simply help existing charity. He truly breathed new life into it (he is an honorary board member of CCRF). Besides raising money, it has gone a long way toward raising people's awareness of the problem that many consider... well... last century's news. I mean, who wants to help children who are simply at risk of cancer when we do have millions of starving children in Africa!

There are many reasons why skaters participate in charity events, and not all of them are noble. In addition, I believe an average Russian tends to be far more cynical about charity and such than an average American. However, I am certain that for most Russian and Ukranian skaters participating in this event it is far more than just a "gig".

OK, I'll get off my soapbox now. Sorry for such a rant -- I really did not mean it to become one. :o

Here is a link to an article about a young photographer who was sponsored by CCRF to travel to the Ukraine in an effort to promote awareness of the overwhelming medical issues that the region is still dealing with.

It is incredibly touching and it is easy to see why many skaters, both Russian and American, want to do what they can to help with this worthy cause. Viktor has worked with this charity for a number of years and his commitment is very impressive.